Lyme Disease Growing Problem
Sunday, June 30th, 2019 -- 7:43 AM
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) -It's officially summer, and lawmakers are aiming to curb the growing problem of Lyme disease in the state through education and prevention efforts.A bipartisan package of five bills would direct the state Department of Natural Resources to post signs about the tick-borne disease in public parks, sell bug spray with the powerful DEET repellent and conduct an awareness campaign each May. The legislation would also create an epidemiologist position in the Department of Health Services focused on the disease and establish a 16-member study committee tasked with recommending to the Legislature policy changes regarding awareness, prevention and treatment of Lyme disease. Democratic Sen. Mark Miller of Monona, one of the sponsors of the bills, said raising awareness about Lyme disease is important not only for the public, but also for health care professionals. He said the disease often goes misdiagnosed.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show Wisconsin had the fourth highest number of reported cases of Lyme disease in the country in 2017. DHS data shows the number of cases of Lyme disease has increased over the past 30 years and estimated Wisconsin had 3,105 cases in 2018. Lyme disease is contracted through a bite from an infected deer tick. If left untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart and the nervous system, according to the CDC. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash, typically in a bull's-eye pattern.
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